I guess I'll go there:
Tried to read over most of the thread. Didn't see anyone singing the praises of PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the DR, be it primary, high school or the UASD.
Of course there are always exceptions and some downright inspirational folks who have made it far in life, and many people who go on to be happy and successful according to their own interests and definitions.
But do any expats willingly/knowingly send or passively allow their kids to go to
public primary and high schools? It seems no Dominican with the remote possibility of scraping together a few thousand pesos a semester does.
Another point touched upon was the extremely high cost of sending kids to the "top" bilingual/U.S. certified schools (Carol Morgan and company), and thus only the rich have a fair chance at getting their kids a good education.
BUT one important thing to remember is that some expats can afford to send their children to THOSE schools because it is one the amazing perks of their jobs to have their children's education paid for at the "best" institutions as a work benefit. With the same logic that their housing is also covered for them to live in the nicest hoods and luxury towers in SD, the "quality" of education of their children must be "guaranteed" at a level similar to their home country. This would apply to *SOME* embassy employees and NGO and other international organism workers that are non-residents of the country. I don't know about the private sector. But know that there are international aid and development organizations whose overhead is through the roof because Carol Morgan and company is not cheap (among other reasons). And the tuition for one employee's children for a year is more than the total annual salary of a dozen Dominican national employees that work for the same organization (who are obliged to send their kids to public schools, or lower level private ones). Ouch.
Maybe some people didn't know that and will be angry about their donations or tax dollars being spent that way, I don't know. One one hand, some believe it's "necessary" to attract the most "qualified" international candidates; but at the same time, makes you wonder if investing so much their benefits is really worth it...are there surely not some Dominicans that could do the job just as well? (the counter argument) Or a better way to invest the money? Do the math...a five year stint times two kids times the annual cost per kid at one of those private schools...how many schools could you build for Dominican kids with that?
I don't have any kids, but if/when that occurs I personally hope that
I have one of those jobs with similar benefits if living in a "developing" country!
I would not send them to public schools or a poor quality private school when I have the means to provide them with a better education elsewhere. Yes, there are some good, more "affordable" private schools in bigger cities. But if it came down to not being able to find quality
secular education, I would rather they go to a decent public school back in the U.S.
